BOSTON, MA - Freshman guard Layo Medina (Brockton, MA) poured in a game-high 25 points including a 9-9 outing from the free throw stripe to lead the Framingham State University men's basketball team past the University of Massachusetts Boston, 76-60, in the opening game of the 26th Annual UMass Boston Harbor Invitational this evening at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Boston. With the decision, the Rams improve to 2-2 on the year, while the loss drops the Beacons to 2-1.

UMass Boston jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on layups by junior guard Isaac Jenkins (Pordenone, Italy) and sophomore guard Jason White (Roxbury, MA) but it was the only lead of the night for the home squad as the Rams answered with a 10-0 spurt, capped by a three point bucket from Medina with 14:57 remaining in the half to give Framingham the 10-4 advantage.

A three point field goal by freshman guard Juan Lopez (Holyoke, MA) with 5:40 to play in the first stanza gave the Rams their largest lead of the half at 30-20 before UMass Boston responded with a 9-2 spur, fueled by four points from White to make it a three point game at 32-29 with 1:55 left. Framingham State scored the final field goal of the half on a layup by junior guard Allen St. Surin (Brockton, MA) to take a 34-29 lead into the intermission.

Like the first half, the Beacons opened the second stanza on a 4-0 run in the first two minutes of action to cut the lead to one at 34-33, Framingham State, but it was the closest they'd get for the remainder of the night.

With10:27 to play, a layup by senior guard Royce Veal (Dorchester, MA) put the Rams back on top by double digits at 52-41, forcing the Beacons to take a timeout. Framingham would extend the lead to 16, it's largest of the night, on a reserve layup by St. Surin with 7:19 to play. The Beacons were able to respond with a 7-0 spurt to keep some hope alive, cutting the lead to nine points (59-50) with just over four minutes remaining but a Medina three point basket would put the Rams back ahead by double-digits for good at 62-50. Over the final two minutes of action Framingham State connected on 10 of 12 free throws to seal the 76-60 victory.

Medina's 23 points were a career-high as the freshman connected on 6-12 shots from the field including 4-7 from behind the arc. Veal finished the night with 14 points while Lopez contributed with 12 points in the win. Freshman guard Darius Carter (Boston, MA) was one rebound shy of a double-double, collecting 11 points to go along with nine boards in an impressive all-around outing.

For the Beacons, senior forward Pat Joseph (Queens, NY) was outstanding in the low post, netting a team-high 20 points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. White was also in double figures with 16 points on an 8 for 13 shooting performance from the floor while Jenkins chipped in with seven points, a game-high five steals and four assists.

Both teams will be back in action tomorrow as part of the Harbor Invitational with the Rams taking on Trinity College in the championship game at 3:00 p.m. Trinity was victorious over Nichols College, 63-47, in the other opening round match up while the Beacons will face Nichols in the consolation game slated for a 1:00 p.m. tip.